Shuttle-checking means for looms.



J. NORTHROP.

IPIATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

SHUTTLE CHECKING MEANS FOR LOOMS.

' N0 MODEL.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 21. 1904.

6 0567 eases, mxflaw.

Patented October 11, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONAS NORTHROP. OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPO- RATION OF MAINE.

SHUTTLE-CHECKING MEANS FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,048, dated October 11, 1904.

' Application filed May 21, 1904. Serial No. 209,059. (No modelJ To (I/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ONAS NORTHROP, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shuttle-Checking Means for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

A multitude of shuttle-checking devices have been designed for the purpose of properly and efl ectively stopping a loom-shuttle at the desired position in the shuttle-box and to prevent shuttle rebound, differing more or less in construction; but to-day the most practical and generally-used checking device has as its principal element or member the closed leather loop. The picker stick passes up through the loop, and when the shuttle hits the picker and throws it outward the pickerstick is brought into sudden engagement with the outer end of the loop and the latter is moved against some form of retarding device. When the shuttle is thrown from the box, the picker engages the inner end of the loop and moves it inward to set it for the next or return pick of the shuttle. Thus the setting of the checking means is effected by the pickerstick and is dependent upon the movement thereof. As a consequence the efliciency of the check varies with the accuracy with which it is set, and manifestly the most efflcient check is that one which is set uniformly pick after pick. In actual practice, however, this uniform setting has not been obtainable heretofore, because the check will be set at one point when the loom is running at speed and at a different point when the speed changes. This is so true that when a loom is started up it is the practice of the weaver to set the check by hand in order to get the loom running, for if this is not done the check will not act properly and the shuttle will be misp ositioned to stop the loom. Again, the double action of the picker-stick wears the loop in two places, and theitem of loop-replenishment frequently reaches large proportions, as the leather is explied thereto.

for the reduction in the quantity of leather used in the checking means, whereby the first cost of the same is reduced and the renewal item largely decreased. i

The novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification, and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure l is front elevation of one end of a loom-lay having a shuttle-box and with one embodiment of my novel checking means ap- Fig. 2 is an outer end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the checking means removed from the lay, the picker-stick being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the castings forming a part of the checking means, and Fig. 5 IS a similar View of another casting forming a part of such means to be hereinafter referred to.

The lay A having a shuttle-box B thereon of usual construction, the picker P and pickerstick P, the protector rock-shaft 5 and binderfinger b and dagger 5 fast thereon, may be and are all of well-known construction, a binder B being fulcrumed at its outer end on a stud b and cooperating with the binder-finger b in a familiar manner. A bracket 1, having a depending bent flange 2, 3, is bolted to the under side of the lay behind and at the outer 'end of the path of movement of the picker-stick, the outer part 2 0i the flange being parallel to such path of moveTrTentias'filearly shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 2, a foot iis extended below the bracket and one end of a flexible strap 5, preferably made-of leather, is secured thereto by a suitable bolt 6. A second bracket is secured to the front of the lay (shown in perspective in Fig. 4) and comprises an upright flat body 7, which rests against the front face of and is bolted to the lay at 8, and ashelflike portion 9, which extends beneath the lay,

the portion 9 at its inner end having a prolongation 10 downturned at 11 to form a fixed stop, to be referred to. The body 7 is provided with a forwardly-projecting lug 12, slotted at 13, Fig. 3, and preferably undercut at 14: beneath the slot, Figs. 1 and 3, said lug having an outwardly-extended wing 15, from which depends a hollow boss 16, having a downturned elongated stud17 fixedly secured thereto. A long sleeve-like hub 18 is rotatably mounted on the stud and held in place in suitable manner, as by a washer 19 and pin 20, and an offset upright presser 21 is secured to or forms a part of the hub, the rear face of the presser being transversely convex, as'shown best in Fig. 3. The hub is provided with an outwardly-extended arm 22, having an upright broad fiat face 23 and curved outward at its inner end, as at 24, Fig. 3, to at times engage a stop-ear 16 on the boss 16, As will be explained presently, the face 23 of the arm 22 is normally so positioned as to extend diagonally into the path of the pickerstick and opposite the flange 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that as the picker-stick approaches the outer end of its stroke it will engage and wipe over the face 23, thereby rocking the hub 18 and forcing the presser 21 rearwardly. Such rocking movement of the hub and parts carried thereby is limited by engagement of the part 24 of the face 23 with the stop-ear 16 and it will be understood that the rear face of the picker-stick wipes over the fixed flange 2.

An upright abutment 25 (shown separately in the perspective view Fig. 5) has a laterally offset head 26 shaped to fit the undercut portion of the slotted lug 12, as shown in Fig. 1, and the head is securely attached to the lug by a clamping-bolt 27 and nut 27 By moving the head forward or back with relation to the lug the position of the abutment can be adjusted, the free side of the strap 5 passing over the rounded front upright face of the abutment and being vertically supported by a horizontal shelf 28 at the lower end of the abutment. The strap is bent to form a U- shaped or open loop below the lay and with the bight of the loop in the path of the pickerstick, to be engaged by the latter on its outward stroke, the relative normal position of the check-loop and the adjacent parts being clearly shown in Fig. 3.

I will now describe the means for setting the loop, such means operating wholly independently of the picker-stick and setting the loop at exactly the same point on each pick.

The abutment 25 has a rigid flat arm 29 below the shelf 28 and extended toward .the center of the loom, and a fixed stud 30 is extended from the front of the arm at right angles thereto. An arm 31 is mounted to rock on the stud, and its upper end is pivotally connected by a pin 32 with the free end of the strap 5, the latter being preferably reinforced at 33 to aflford a better hold for the pin. Be-' tween the rocker-arm 31 and the fixed supporting-arm 29 a strong spring 8 is coiled around the stud 30, the ends of the spring being secured to the fixed and rocking arms, respectively, the winding of the spring being such that its normal tendency is to throw the arm 31 inward and bring the adjacent end of the strap 5 against the stop 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the movable side of the loop passes over the front face of the abutment 25 and that the convex rear face of the presser 21 engages the opposite or front face of the loop side near the abutment. Now when the incoming shuttle meets the picker P the latter is thrown outward or to the left, Fig. 1, and the picker-stick P passes between the flange 2 and the diagonal face 23 of the arm 22 and engages the bight of the check-loop, drawing the free side thereof outward and rocking the arm 31 against the action ofthe spring 8X. The primary checking action is thus effected, the spring taking up the first shock and acting to retard and slow down the picker-stick; but as the latter approaches the outer end of its stroke it wipes over the face 23,.and thereby turns the hub 18 to force the presser rearward. This movement of the presser acts to bend or deflect the movable side of the checkloop with greater pressure against and around the fixed abutment 25, so that an additional retarding action is transmitted through the loop to the picker-stick, stopping the latter at the proper point. The friction exerted by the flange 2 and face 23 of the arm 24 upon the opposite faces of the picker-stick prevents the latter from chattering or rebounding. hen the picker-stick is thrown inward to eject the shuttle, it releases the bight of the check-loop, and the spring s instantly acts to move the free end of the loop forward till it hits the stop 11, thereby setting the check-- loop accurately at the. same point at every pick and wholly independently of the pickerstick. As soon as the latter begins its inward movement the arm 22 is released and the pressure of the presser 21 upon the strap is relieved. From the foregoing it will be manifest that the setting of the check-loop is effected with absolute uniformity and wholly irrespective of the picker-stick or the speed at which it moves.

By making use of an open loop I save about half of the leather required for the usual closed loop, reducing the cost of the same and diminishing the cost of maintenance correspondingly.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as the same may be varied or rearranged in detail by those skilled in the art IIO without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In shuttle-checking means for looms, a flexible strap fixed at one end and forming an open loop adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof, means connected with the other end of the strap to set the loop at the same point on each pick independently of the picker-stick, and a fixed stop to limit the setting action of said means.

2. In shuttle-checking means for looms, a flexible strap forming an open loop and adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof, means independent of the picker-stick to set the loop on each pick, and a fixed stop to limit the setting action of said means. 7

3. In shuttle-checking means for looms, a flexible strap forming an open loop and adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof,spring-actuated means to set the loop on each pick independently of the picker-stick, and a fixed stop to limit the setting action of said means.

4:. In a loom, a picker-stick, a flexible strap forming an open loop adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof, means to set the loop at the same point on each pick independently of the pickerstick, and means operated by or through the picker-stick on its outward stroke to increase the checking action of the loop.

5. In a loom, a picker-stick, a flexible strap forming a loop adapted to engage the pickerstick and check the outward stroke thereof, means to set the loop at the same point on each pick, and means operated by or through the picker-stick on its outward stroke to increase the checking action of the loop.

6. In a loom, a picker-stick, a flexible strap fixed at one end and forming an open loop adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof, means connected with the other end of the strap to set the loop at the same point on each pick, and independent means operated by or through the pickerstick on its outward stroke to increase the checking action of the loop.

7. In a loom, a picker-stick, a flexible strap fixed at one end and forming an open loop adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof, means connected with the other end of the strap to set the loop at the same point .on each pick, a fixed abutment over which the free side of the loop draws, and a movable presser actuated by or through the picker-stick on its outward stroke to press the free loop side against the abutinent and increase the checking action of the 8. In a loom, a picker-stick, a flexible strap fixed at one end and forming an open loop adapted to engage the picker-stick and check the outward stroke thereof, means connected with the other end of the strap to set the loop at the same point on each pick, a fixed abutment over which the free side of the loop draws, a movable presser to act upon the opposite face of the loop side adjacent the abutment, and an arm connected with the presser and located in the outward path of the pickerstick, to increase the checking action of the loop as the picker-stick approaches the outer end of its stroke.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JONAS NORTHROP. Witnesses: GEORGE OTIS DRAPER, ERNEST W. WooD. 

